This was written by Dad Russell Spice of Royal Oak Phoenix Chapter 50 years ago, but it still applies today. It first appeared when he typed it up and tacked it to the bulletin board in the Hazel Park Masonic Temple. A state officer saw it there and took it hime with him. It then appeared in the November-December 1965 Michigan DeMolay News. They then sent it to the International Supreme Council and it appeared in the January 1966 issue of the Cordon. It was printed on the inside front cover.
by Russell Spice – PMC, Hazel Park Chapter
I watched him enter the temple for his first time. He knew only one other person; only one knew him, the signer of his petition. Some threw him a smile; some, a half smile; and some didn’t look. Someone said, “Hi,” so he replied the same. That was the end of that.
Someone told him to go upstairs, so he did. He saw more people standing around and talking. Not many hellos came his way. Some smiles only.
The members started to gather to enter the chapter room. Then someone approached him and introduced himself with a smile, a pleasant tone of voice, and the open hand of friendship. The candidate then relaxed some. A door had been opened by that one person. A way of life awaited him inside of the chapter room. The officers entered the chapter room and left him in the care of the Sentinel.
After awhile the chapter room door opened and he entered. He was nervous. But soon that went away and a different feeling entered, a good feeling. The impressive degree started. He was welcomed. He liked what he saw and heard. Never before had he heard words put in such beautiful and meaningful sentences. He learned of filial love, reverence, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness and patriotism. He was then conducted outside; the degree was over. Not long after that the meeting was over.
The room outside was again filed with people standing and talking. Half of the boys went to him and said, “Welcome into DeMolay. You will learn a lot.”
One by one the members went downstairs for refreshments. He followed. He looked around and saw boys eating their refreshments. None of them asked him to join them, so he left because he felt left out.
As he walked home he thought of what he had seen and heard that night in the chapter room. It all sounded good out of ar itual. But in real life, the boys who claim to be courteous would not greet him when he entered the temple and offer the open hand of friendship then, but just when the ritual says to.
No one joined him for refreshments. Instead they went into their same old rut of talking to the same people about the same thing. The door of welcome was closed. On his way home he wondered if he would return or not to learn the lessons of DeMolay because the other boys that night did not seem to care.
Open that door and leave it open. Welcome new members so they may learn the great lessons that the order teaches, so this young man may live to be courteous to his opponents, tolerant in his opinions, and faithful to every trust reposed in him.